"Fine, for a loafer, sir, but I want to learn the soldier business, and I haven't any time to lose."
"From all I hear," remarked the rainmaker, "you're learning the soldier business fully as rapidly as you need to."
"There's a lot more I want to know, sir, and it can't be learned when a man is marked 'hospital' or 'quarters,' sir," Hal returned. "Thank you for marking me 'duty.'"
"There's a real soldier, or I'm too green to be an officer," thought Lieutenant Gross, as his eyes followed Hal, who, erect and full of spring, was striding from the room.
On the third day after his return to duty Hal was warned for the guard. The following morning he turned out to be inspected with the new guard.
As he was not assigned to the first relief, Hal seated himself inside the guard house, picking up one of the books that rested on a table there and began reading.
Presently the other soldiers sauntered outside, and Soldier Hal was left there alone.
"Overton!"
Hal laid down his book, rising and stepping over to a cell door to find Dowley's eyes glaring at him balefully.
"You sneak, you're responsible for getting me into all this trouble!" hissed the soldier in arrest.